Quick commerce showcase to global audience trips on logistics issues

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : Swiggy and IPO-bound Zepto's delivery operations inside the national capital's Bharat Mandapam on the inaugural day of the India AI Impact Summit were meant to showcase India's quick commerce prowess before a global audience. Instead, deliveries faltered and orders got cancelled through the chaotic day, with delivery executives as well as security personnel clueless on the hazy entry policies.

Visitors, delegates, exhibitors, security and delivery personnel that Mint spoke with said among key pain points were customers having to queue up to collect their orders after having placed them, delivery personnel being turned away by security staff—who weren't informed of the arrangements—and a patchy telecom network that only made matters worse. Swiggy and Zepto took distinctly different operational routes at the summit. Zepto operated a dedicated dark store inside the Bharat Mandapam with 11 pickup points scattered across the venue, while Swiggy partnered with on-ground restaurants in food courts on a commission basis, deploying eight pickup points.

Mint's visit to Zepto's dark store showed a diverse inventory, including printing and stationery supplies, though the company excluded its private labels and non-vegetarian items from the offering. Perishable items such as milk and vegetables were available, allowing restaurants at the venue to source supplies as needed. The strategy paid off during the early morning rush, when most food stalls weren't yet operational.